by The 4-Way Panel

Dear 4-Way,

Do you think it’s a good idea to find out how many sexual partners the person you’re dating has had? If the answer is “yes,” when in the relationship is the best time to ask?—LL

    The straight man’s perspective: Chris Kennedy

I side with military policy on this one, “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” No number is going to please anyone, so why bother? And odds are most people don’t tell the truth anyway. If you’re worried about them hiding a WMD/STD, then have your partner get tested. Their “number” doesn’t matter. You can contract a disease in one lucky encounter or be luckily disease-free after many. No need to drop that bomb of a question. Make love, not war.

Check in tomorrow for the gay woman's perspective by Jody Fischer.

The 4-Way is published monthly. If you have a question for our 4-Way panel, please send it to them in care of the editor at rbrown@realgirlsmedia.com. To read more of The 4-Way columns or to listen to our podcasts, visit The 4-Way now.